Journalist Rajeev Sharma arrested for passing sensitive information to Chinese Intelligence; Chinese agent and her Nepalese associate also booked under the Official Secrets Act

The Delhi police on Saturday said that journalist Rajeev Sharma, who was arrested on charges of spying, was passing on sensitive information to Chinese intelligence agencies. The police also arrested a Chinese woman, Qing Shi, and a Nepalese man, Sher Singh alias Raj Bohra in connection with the spying case. The police said that both of them were found supplying Rajeev Sharma huge amounts of money routed through Hawala Channels for conveying sensitive information to Chinese Intelligence. They all have been booked under the Official Secrets Act after classified documents were recovered from their possession.

Two days ago, the Special Cell of the Delhi police had arrested one Rajeev Sharma, a journalist found working for Chinese intelligence officers. “During the search of the house of Rajeev Sharma in Pitampura, NewDelhi one Laptop, some confidential documents related to Indian Defence department and some other incriminating documents were recovered & seized,” the Delhi police said in a press statement.

“A few days back, a secret input was received from an Intelligence Agency that one Rajeev Sharma R/o SG-2, St. Xavier Apartment, Pitampura, New Delhi is having links with Foreign Intelligence Officer and he has been receiving funds from his handler through illegal means & Western Union money transfers platform for conveying sensitive information, which concerns National Security and Foreign relations. A case Vide FIR no. 230/2020, u/s 3/4/5 Official Secrets Act, PS Special Cell, Delhi was registered on 13-09-2020. Thereafter, above mentioned Rajeev Sharma was arrested on 14.09.2020 and a Search Warrant was obtained for searching his residential premises,” the statement added.

On interrogation, Rajeev Sharma has disclosed his involvement in the procurement of secret/sensitive information and further conveying the same to his Chinese handlers namely Michael and George, based in Kunming, China, through different digital channels. He further disclosed that he was about to send/convey these recovered secret documents to his handlers. In the past also, he had sent several documents in the form of reports to his handlers and got a handsome remuneration for the same, said Sanjeev Yadav, the deputy commissioner of police (special cell).

According to the police, During the period of 2010-2014, he wrote a weekly column for GLOBAL TIMES, widely known as a mouthpiece of the Chinese govt. Observing those columns, one Chinese intelligence agent named Michael from Kunming city of China contacted Rajeev Sharma through his LINKEDIN account and invited him to Kunming China for an interview in a Chinese Media Company. The entire trip was funded by Michael. During, the meeting, Michael and his junior Xou asked Rajeev Sharma to provide inputs on various aspects of India-China relations. Between, 2016 to 2018Rajeev Sharma was in contact with Michael and Xou. He was tasked to provide the information/inputs on issues like Indian deployment on Bhutan-Sikkim-Chinatri-junction including Doklam, the pattern of India-Myanmar military co-operation, India-China boundary issue etc. Subsequently, Rajeev Sharma had meetings with Michael and Xou in Laos and Maldives once each and gave briefing son the above-mentioned topics. Besides these visits, Rajeev Sharma was also in contact with Michael and Xou through e-mail and social media.

In addition to the Global Times, Sharma had also written columns for left-wing publications such as The Quint, DailyO etc. He also runs a YouTube channel called ‘Rajeev Kishkindha’, which has around 11,900 subscribers.

In January,2019, Rajeev Sharma came in contact with another Kunming based Chinese entity George. He visited Kunming China via Kathmandu and met George. George was introduced as a General Manager of a Chinese Media Company. During the meeting, George asked Rajeev Sharma to write/inform about Dalai Lama related issues. For this Rajeev Sharma was offered 500 USD per article/information. George told Rajeev Sharma that they will send him money through his company’s sister concern based in Mahipal Pur, Delhi being operated by a Chinese lady Qing. Rajeev Sharma has received more than Rs. 30 Lacs from George in about 10instalmentsfrom January 2019 to September 2020 for the information provided byhim. Rajeev Sharma had further meetings with George in Malaysia and again in Kunming City, China.

During investigation, the deputy commissioner said, it is revealed that shell companies are being operated byforeign intelligence to transfer funds to Rajiv Sharma. It is revealed that Chinese nationals namelyJhang Chang and his wife Chang-li-lia were running the companies MZ Pharmacyand MZ Malls, under fake names Suraj and Usha. They are both presently in Chinaand on their behalf, another Chinese lady Qing Shi and one Raj Bhora, a NepaliNational (both directors of MZ Pharmacy) are presently operating the businessfrom Mahipalpur. Both, Qing Shi (age 30 yrs) and Sher Singh @ Raj Bohra (age 30yrs) have also been arrested. Furtherinvestigation with respect to the Chinese shell companies based in Mahipalpuris in progress.

Forensic analysis of seized mobile phones and laptops is being conducted to unearth theentire network and conspiracy in this case. Identities and roles of otherforeign nationals involved in the conspiracy are also being ascertained, the police said.